Interview with Master Greg (Part I)
Written by Li Shuen
Written by Li Shuen
Who are you?
I think this is very different from “what do you do“, because I feel like who I am is my inner self, the core of who I am. So who am I? I’m… a gentleman thriving to be the very best in every way I can, and to achieve anything I possibly can.
What do you do as a College Master (and your other roles)?
I still have a hard time with the word ‘Master’ because it has roots in slavery in the USA, where I am from. However, for the short period that I’ve been at RVRC so far, it is endearing to hear the tone students use when they call me Master. It is full of respect and camaraderie, and I truly find it welcoming! Other than being the RVRC College Master, I am a husband, father, brother and a Professor at the Yong Siew Toh (YST) Conservatory of Music. At the Conservatory, I teach students the role of arts in their life and in the society. It is kind of a mix of sociology, history, personal development, and the arts. At YST, I take it as my responsibility to excite student curiosity to explore and be interested in the things that we teach.
Have you done the DISC test before? What's your personality type?
I haven’t done the DISC test yet, though I should do it soon! I have done the Colour Code personality test in the past – it is a system about how you interact with other people and they categorize you by colour (https://www.colorcode.com/choose_personality_test/). In my early 20’s, it was a very powerful tool to shape myself. Currently, I’m red and blue. Red means always striving to do things, even if that means running over people sometimes to get things done. Blue means building relationships with people. The colour code signifies what motivates individuals to do things. Reds are motivated by power when they do stuff, and blues are motivated by the relationship with other people. So for red-blue personalities such as me, we tend to feel bad if we push to get things done, especially if we have ruffled people along the way. So from the test, I learned about my strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, I also learned how I could turn my weaknesses into strengths.
How long have you been in NUS/Singapore?
I’ve been in Singapore since the end of July 2005. I was born in Michigan in the US, but now Singapore is home.
What's your favourite part of the job?
Right now, every day is an adventure because there’s so much to learn about the RVRC community, the people, the systems, and the college relationship to the other NUS entities it interfaces. As the College Master, I’m kind of like the middle person to link the various entities together.
Do you think that way because it's kind of like the honeymoon period now since you just became the master?
Oh no! If you’re using that as a metaphor, then I think that this process right now is the courtship, and the honeymoon will be the end. I think many people are wondering now, what I’m going to do and what I’m going to change, but I don’t think that’s the focus. The focus should be on what we are gonna do and what we are gonna change together as a college.
Do you think it's an upgrade from an RF (at CAPT) to being a master here?
I don’t think of this change as a promotion, but it is significantly different. I would love to do something different from what I’ve been doing for the past few years, so I think it’s a great change, to be honest.
Is there a favourite spot you have in RVRC?
Ah, this is a hard one. I have 2! The walkway from Level 1 Block G to Block A; there are always bees flying in and out the flowers and I love it. It’s the intimate moments that I enjoy the most.
The next spot would be Block F, Level 8, especially in the evenings at one of those balconies. I would love to have more students enjoying the view up there, just chilling there in the evenings.
What’s your biggest leadership takeaway during your time with CAPT?
Everyone needs an advisor; so I’m super grateful for the Rector at CAPT in providing me so many takeaways. From a leadership standpoint, it made me believe that students can do a great job in leadership roles at NUS. When I engaged with student leaders in CAPT, it was super enjoyable to see their productions and watch them perform. Sometimes students can’t grasp what all they can do, but if they have a good advisor it helps them see the possibilities. So I guess my biggest takeaway was to see how students could lead with ability and heart – it just amazed me.
What's the biggest difference between CAPT & RVRC that you feel about so far?
They shouldn’t be compared to each other, because they ARE different. Too often, people want to compare, but it wouldn’t do justice to either RVRC or CAPT (or any other colleges). We should embrace the beauty and distinctiveness of both.
Which aspect of RVRC would you like to see the most change in in the next couple of years?
Right now, I’m trying to make sure that I have an accurate understanding of what RVRC is, before I start implementing ideas. I don’t want to make changes for the sake of making changes. I think currently, it’s a kind of a puzzle and I am trying to figure out how best I can fit in, and if there are any missing pieces. It is my responsibility to find the missing pieces and put it all together.
So is there an idea that you can share with us, like what you wish to do?
Ah yes! For starters, I think that the lawn is underutilized – nobody uses the lawn because it’s not level and inconvenient to use. So I wanted to buy a lawn roller to level the lawn – I tried to bring one back with me from the USA, but I couldn’t. I would want to level the lawn and fill in the dips around the fire engine access. After it’s done, I see so much potential for it being used as a space – for badminton or even frisbee! It’s not a big idea, but I feel that we should do little things that make a big difference rather than big things that make little difference.
do little things that make a big difference, than big things that make a little difference.
Till then, #ridgeviewblogs
Related Articles
An Afternoon Chat with Ms May
Who in RVRC do not know her name? If you haven’t heard of her yet, well then this post is a good start for you! Really! If you are in RVRC, you have got to know her because one way or another your paths will cross. Trust me, I’m an engineer. *dabs*A Bit About Ms...
Same Ridge, Different View – An interview with the Associate Director of Student Life
Let’s be real; unless you’re a person who lives, breathes and eats a particular subject during your compulsory education days *side glance to my files of math papers*, your favorite period other than recess was probably Physical Education. Getting to change into a...
Same Ridge, Different View: An interview with the newest Resident Fellow
To most people, she is still a mysterious personality that sometimes appears during WR lessons for the freshmen program. Who is she? How did she get here? We took off on a fateful Wednesday morning *sobs* to chase down this figure and learnt all we can about her....